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The Morkie dog breed is a loving ball of fluff who demands quite a bit of attention. Learn more about living with this designer breed!
The energetic Morkie is a crossbreed from mixing the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier. It goes by the names Morkshire Terrier, Malkie, and Yorktese.
Loving and playful, it makes an active fur baby who’s always up for a game of fetch or chase. But compared to Yorkies, this pup is more of a lap dog as it is also content to cuddle.
With parent breeds belonging to the toy group, you can expect the Morkie dog to be small, but don’t let its stature size fool you. This pooch has a big personality with the energy levels to match.
It was purposely bred to create an affectionate lapdog with a low amount of shedding. Both purebred parents don’t shed much, but this offspring is not considered to be hypoallergenic.
Today, the Morkie breed enjoys growing popularity described to have the sweet nature of the Maltese and the spunk of a typical Terrier breed.
The American Kennel Club does not recognize the breed. Since he is not truly a breed of its own, he can’t be AKC registered.
Morkie Dog Breed Standard
Since the Morkie does not appear in the registry, there are no standards for which Morkie breeders are aiming. Looks and sizes are not as certain as those of purebreds.
Crossbreeds don’t offer this predictability, so it can be hard to envision which parent they’ll take after in terms of appearance or temperament. But for the American Morkshire Terrier Club, their dogs come in many sizes and colors.
The following characteristics are general yet do not apply to all Morkie puppies that you will find on the internet nowadays.
Height and Weight
The Morkie dog varies in growth patterns. There is no agreed size, but the following details are what organizations recognize.
As a mix between the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier, you can expect the Morkie breed to be tiny. This fluffball tends to range from 8 to 11 inches tall and weighs between 4 to 15 pounds when fully grown depending on their genetics.
Coat
Hair is glossy, silky, soft, and straight flowing over the sides of the body. Any signs of wavy or curliness are unacceptable by the association.
The single coat comes in various colors such as black, tan, gold, white, and liver. It is solid and sometimes a combination of these colors in a piebald pattern.
Even within the same litter, Morkie puppies vary in appearance, each displaying a stronger resemblance to one parent than the other.
Morkie Family Life
The Terrier heritage gives this pup abundant energy tied up in such a tiny package. It is a bit calmer, though, to happily curl up on your lap like the Maltese parent.
It may be friendly but can be vocal when someone is at the door. The tenacious Morkie dog breed makes a good alarm system as it quickly alerts you to unfamiliar people.
This fur baby is confident and lively with a gentle personality, making it a great canine companion for all ages.
It gets along with everyone in the household but tends to demand a lot of attention from its favorite person.
Morkies form a strong attachment to a particular family member, which makes them ideal for singles. They can still get along with other people and pets just fine, especially if socialized at an early age.
While they love to run and play, Morkie dogs can get hurt easily by younger kids who like to play rough. Since they are fragile, they should not be allowed to play with larger dogs without supervision.
They would do best in a home with adults and older children who know how to play gently.
But like all breeds, no matter the size, always teach children how to approach and treat dogs.
Morkie breeds can be great buddies, but regardless of how friendly they are, you should never leave them all by themselves with a child.
Morkie Dog History
In the late 1990s, designer breeders started to intentionally mix the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier, likely in North America.
Although, Morkie dog breeds may have existed naturally over the years as a result of several breeds being mixed to create the desired low-shedding coat, adorable canine companions.
While not recognized by AKC, the American Canine Hybrid Club acknowledges the crossbreed that you may even enter your pooch to the International Designer Canine Registry.
Morkie Breed Health
The Morkie inherited some of the best traits from its parent breeds, along with good health. Therefore, it is generally healthy, but there is no guarantee that your pet will not inherit the following ailments.
Glaucoma
It is an eye disease in which the pressure within the eye is increased. Glaucoma is caused by inadequate drainage of aqueous fluid, not by overproduction.
In severe or advanced cases, medical treatment often is combined with surgery.
Tracheal Collapse
This happens when the tracheal rings flatten making it difficult for air to get to the lungs.
It is a progressive disease despite treatment. Even pets who had surgery often take medications for life.
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. It is caused by many conditions such as severe liver disease and inadequate nutrition in toy breed puppies.
Typical signs of it include weakness, tremors, and seizures.
RELATED: Breathing Problems in Dogs: How to Spot Them and What to Do
How to Care for Morkies
Exercise
The Morkie dog has an athletic streak from the side of its Terrier heritage. Still, exercise sessions should be kept short as you might harm its short legs.
It needs at least half an hour of exercise daily to steam off pent-up energy and prevent boredom. You can take it on walks, play a game of fetch, or engage in tug of war.
While energetic, the Morkie breed does not require a yard to get the exercise it needs. Like any small, active dog, as long as it has the space indoors to romp and toys for mental stimulation, your dog will do just fine.
Training a Morkie
When it comes to training, the Morkie dog breed may be a bit stubborn, thanks to the Terrier in it. This can make it a handful for inexperienced fur parents.
Training may be a little tough, but with patience and determination, Morkies can learn to obey as you teach some commands.
Consistent and firm training with positive reinforcement will go a long way to curb unwanted habits and instill canine behaviors.
Aside from the obedience training, a Morkie puppy grows up to be calmer and likely to get along with other pets with early socialization.
It is also important to train Morkie dogs at an early age to be on their own for a few hours at a time. They are highly social dogs who can’t tolerate being left alone.
Morkie breeds are prone to suffering from separation anxiety, especially if there are no toys to provide distraction and mental stimulation. Nevertheless, they do best in households where at least one family member is at home most of the time.
Another concern you may encounter is their trait to bark a little too much. Train them to keep the barking at a minimum or not to woof when unnecessary.
Socialization, training, and positive experiences ensure that your crossbreed dog grows up to be a well-rounded pooch. Morkie puppies with the ideal temperament are playful and willing to approach the public.
Grooming
Like both purebred parents, the coat requires regular grooming. As it grows continuously, you need to brush it daily to keep the smooth hair free of mats and tangles.
While typically long, pet parents often keep the coat in a puppy clip. This will require monthly trips to the groomer for maintenance.
A daily oral care routine will help the teeth and gums stay healthy, which will help their overall health.
Trim nails once or twice a month, as long as you don't hear them clicking on the floor.
Check the ears regularly for debris and pests. Clean them as recommended by your vet to avoid infection.
Morkie Diet and Nutrition
Morkie dog breeds tend to gain weight if overfed, so there should be a regular feeding schedule. Divide the food into two meals as opposed to once a day.
Your pets’ diet should be intended for small-sized breeds with high energy levels. High-quality dog food should do well to give them the best chance for a long healthy life.
Whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared, meals should be appropriate to their age with your veterinarian's supervision and approval.
Provide nutritious treats but with limits. Consult your veterinarian about healthy options.
Monitor your dogs’ calorie consumption and weight level to find out the proper portions and nutrients they need at different stages of life.
Ideal Owner of Morkie Dogs
Thanks to its small size, the Morkie can adapt to apartment living as long as you manage for it to bark less. If you are living in closed quarters, your neighbors might not appreciate your pet’s enthusiastic barking.
Still, this yappy pup makes a great watchdog who will let you know if something in your surrounding isn't right.
Because of its small size also that this fur baby is very delicate. So, it is not usually a good fit for families with very young children.
The Morkie dog may be best suited to singles or small families as it demands a bit of attention. In a household, it tends to latch on to one family member, though it can get along just fine with the others.
This fluffball can also be quite a handful for novice owners since you need the experience to handle a stubborn dog.
Despite both Maltese and Yorkies having hypoallergenic coats, the Morkie breed is not classified as such. Though, it is important to note that no dog is truly hypoallergenic since every dog sheds at least a tiny bit.
The Morkie dog breed is low-shedding and considered to be low-allergen pups. So, it can be a good fit for those who tend to sniffle around puppies.
FAQs about Morkie Breeds
Is the Morkie dog breed a good pet?
These social pups make wonderful family pets with their happy-go-lucky temperament. Although they love to run and play with children, Morkies are fragile for young kids to knock down.
Why should you not get a Morkie dog breed?
In addition to being delicate, Morkie dogs need a lot of attention. They don’t appreciate being left alone.
Does the Morkie dog breed bark a lot?
Morkie breeds are quite vocal to announce anyone who’d come knocking on your door. This attitude makes Morkie dog breeds fine guard dogs despite their teeny-tiny size.
Morkie Dog Breeds Summary
If you want pups that make wonderful pets for all ages, Morkies could be the right canine companions for you!
These small fluffballs make fine guardians of the family as they bark even at the slightest disturbance. You could say that they were designed to function as the ultimate man’s best friend for their heartfelt and intense devotion.
So, are they the dogs that you desire?
Some people purchase Morkie dogs without the ability to commit to the lifetime of these animals. If you want to bring a dog home, consider adopting one.
There are many Morkie breeds in need of fostering.
Still, gather more information before getting your puppy to see compatibility with your lifestyle.
You may visit various breeders and see the dogs yourself. Find a reputable breeder who will show health clearances to prove they are clear of health conditions.
The American Morkshire Terrier Club is dedicated to the ethical development of Morkie puppies. The founder, Anna Stillions, devoted herself to helping fellow enthusiasts achieve breed standards.
She solely focuses on the betterment of the crossbreed while protecting and supporting responsible breeding and pet ownership.
The organization built its reputable website to help fur parents like you as you consider adding Morkie dog breeds to your home.
